Category: commonlog

JFM-2024 Goals

I don’t have annual goals. I plan only for a quarter – 12 weeks. You can visualize 12 weeks easily and control most of the parameters too.

For the past four years, I’ve been using WINS — Wealth, Insights, Networking, and Self, for setting my goals.

Here goes my JFM 2024 goals.

Wealth

Insights (learn by doing)

  • Continue this daily commonlog posting
  • Focus on the theme of “Being a Dad; Being a CXO” for the podcast

Networking

  • Start meeting people offline
  • Can you record podcast interviews offline?
  • Don’t hesitate to ping interesting people on LinkedIn

Self

  • Restart jogging (may be after cold winter gets little better – after Jan 20th?)
  • Continue the streak of moving at least for 30 min (so far I’m at 125 continuous days)
  • Homeschooling
    • Josh
      • graduate out of grade 2 of Trinity exam
      • prepare for NIOS 10th exam
      • complete Personal MBA book
    • Jerry
      • complete draft of the book
      • complete Personal MBA book

January 11, 2024

Kashmir – Beautiful place, ruined by experience

Kashmir was beautiful, but the local union rules, haggling, and constant sales pitches ruined our experience.

In December, we visited Kashmir as a family – four adults and three kids.

Unlike other tourist spots where you can hire a cab to take you anywhere, in Kashmir, cabs only bring you to the tourist spot. You’ve got to park and then use local vehicles to get around – like a mule, horse, or Jeep. This odd rule wasn’t the worst part – the prices were. At one spot, the horse handler quoted 3,600 rupees; I haggled it down to 1,500 rupees. I felt good. I later found out it could’ve been done for 800 rupees. Imagine this everywhere. Everywhere you go, you have to negotiate, and it marrs the experience.

We had hard time going around peacefully. There’s always someone selling something near you – tea, nuts, photography services, and kababs. No matter how stern we were, they persisted until another vendor took their spot. The last day, we took a boat ride on Dal Lake, hoping it would be at least quiet. Nope. The floating sellers came around selling tea, coffee, photography, and kababs. We didn’t get a single moment of peace during those 20 to 30 minutes out on the water.

Next time, I will escape this madness.

January 10, 2024

Building family culture

Culture is not just important for businesses and institutions, but also for families. As a homeschooling dad, I often wonder what kind of culture I want to create. On my podcast, I talked to a retired major general about constructing a winning culture. He highlighted three essential elements:

  • psychological safety,
  • success, and
  • stories.

Imagine a team where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts, disagreements, and suggestions. A place where they can try new things and know they’ll be supported. Psychological safety lets everyone explore and grow.

Success is key to any thriving culture. We have to define what winning means to us. Without success, the team will crumble, and interest will wane. Families are no different.

Last but not least, powerful stories reinforce the values we want to instill. We learn what’s acceptable and what’s not from stories.

As a family, we value good citizenship, respect for elders, and independence. I encourage my boys to be honest and bold. If they make a mistake, but tell the truth about it, I don’t punish them. They still lie sometimes, but more often than not, they’re honest.

Success, for homeschoolers, is different from that of traditional schools. We don’t chase grades or vanity metrics. Instead, my children set their own goals each quarter, writing them down and pursuing them with fervor. As their guide, I’m there to help them – whether it’s registering domains, organizing industry tours, or buying tools. Ultimately, they decide what they learn.

We review progress weekly, walking the path to success together. At each quarter’s end, my children celebrate their accomplishments. They have had their fair share of victories – from polishing their writing skills using AI tools to my son passing the Trinity guitar exam.

Stories are our lifeblood. Around the dinner table or on the porch, we chat about family history – my upbringing, my dad’s lessons, and my college days. These stories reveal to them what we value at home. I also encourage boys to talk about what they’ve learned, and what they want to be. Our dinner table is surely full of stories.

Although I hadn’t explicitly focused on these three factors – safety, success, and storytelling – I am going to consciously focus on these to build our home culture.

January 9, 2024

Strategy, Tactics, Logistics – you need all three to achieve your goals

You need strategy, tactics, and logistics to reach your goals. Strategy is knowing where you’re going and why. If you’re clear on these two, you’ll achieve your goals. A tactic is a road map, a detailed plan to get you there. Last but not least, logistics is the support system.

Let’s look at a few examples.

You’re thinking of buying a house. Think about why. Is it for your growing family, an investment, or retirement? Each reason changes what you expect from a house. If you’re buying for investment, maybe you’re looking for a city property with high rent potential. A peaceful community away from the city bustle might be best for retirement.

Dig deeper into the “why” to refine your strategy. If you’re buying a home as an investment, is it better to get a residential or commercial place? Or invest in an index fund? Uncertainty can lead to struggling and procrastinating. Decide what you want and why.

If you are unclear about your why, you’ll never achieve your goal.

Then comes tactics – your road map. Let’s say you want to buy a house for retirement. Start looking for good locations, nearby amenities, and potential development. Set a deadline for making a decision and figure out how much you’ll need. Break down your tactics into smaller steps: visit potential locations, consult with real estate agents, and compare mortgage options. Each step brings you closer to your goal.

Last but not least, logistics – the support system. What’s the budget and when do you need it? Are you going to take out a bank loan, how much money are you going to put down as an initial payment? Are you going to use an agent, if so, who? Can friends who bought recently in that area help you with info? To buy a house on time, you need all these things in place at the right time.

By understanding the strategy of your goal, crafting a detailed tactical plan, and building a solid logistical system, you’ll be well-equipped to turn dreams into reality.

Or consider this: you want to create a product. Why are you doing it? For fun, learning, supporting your lifestyle, or planning to sell later? Each purpose affects what features you’ll include and how you’ll manage them. The tactics include choosing the language, determining features, setting a launch date, validating the product, and getting feedback. In terms of logistics, think about the tools you’ll use and who’ll help you get to the finish line.

To achieve any goal, you need strategy (knowing what and why), tactics (a detailed roadmap), and logistics (a support system). If all three align with clarity, you’ll make your dream come true.

January 8, 2024

Manliness Redefined

My father never hit the gym, mastered martial arts, or sculpted a six-pack. Yet, I can’t think of anyone more manly than him.

He dove headfirst into raising our family. He’d stand by my mother, chopping vegetables for dinner. Every Saturday, he washed clothes with me by his side. Once a month, we scrubbed our home clean together.

But his dedication went beyond family; he cared for our community too. Summers brought drought and water scarcity to our neighborhood. Dad worked tirelessly to find solutions along with neighbours, like digging wells or exploring other options. He also devoted himself to our church, serving as treasurer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society for years.

At work, my father faced a cunning boss from a rival community who tried to trap him with tricks. But Dad never complained or lost heart; instead, he outsmarted his boss and earned promotions until he retired as headmaster.

When my mother, a school teacher, faced issues with promotions or pay hikes, Dad wrote letters and petitioned with officers to ensure she got her due.

Today’s definition of manliness often revolves around gyms and bulging biceps. While there’s nothing wrong with feeling good about our bodies, manliness is so much more than that. Our society needs a broader view of manliness that goes beyond physicality.

It’s about how you treat your wife, raise your kids, participate in the community, and face the challenges of life.

We must see manliness as more than muscle and bone; it’s a journey of heart and soul.

January 7, 2024